Thursday, November 30

Finding her again (and she's a great blogger when she blogs hint hint) has led to a fecund topic: Redd is looking for inspiration for her blog. What to blog about, how to find a hook, etc. Perfect example of her cleverness, most recently she posts a suggestion box and then says "not a Diebold system". Most reassuring and funny, too. We love smart funny women here at BG.

I love how she posits her problem: "I’m interested in so much my brain is full." Join the club, and blog it down, baby. [BTW for another great example of a full brain blogging check out Douglas at Balls and Walnuts. He doesn't necessarily focus or have a hook and his blog is nonetheless cohesive and focussed.]

One thing I want to say to ReddTurtle and the rest of you: I think it's time to get beyond the idea that blogging is a rare and unusual process. If you're like me, you've been writing, cutting and pasting, giggling, and snarking your entire adult life, and perhaps even before that. A blog is a way to a larger, more immediate audience for what you've always done, but don't let that distract you from the fact that

You are an artist.

The blog is the medium. Sure it calls to you every day "feed me feed me feed me" but so does the easel or the darkroom or the yarn stash for other artists. The fact that it's a blog and that other people will see it, probably TODAY, really hangs up some people from actually saying something.

I really don't believe that there are "creative types" or "non-creative types". There is fear and there is ignoring the fear and doing it anyway. Most mornings I wake up and have no idea what I will post that day. It happens when I show up. My advice to ReddTurtle (and anyone else who is blogging or creating in some other way) is to make a commitment for the next three weeks to show up every day. It was only when I started blogging every single day no matter what that I feel my blog became worth reading.

Do you have any other things that help you along in the creative path? Leave a comment here or over at ReddTurtle's. I'm looking forward to the dialogue. And thanks.

Wednesday, November 29

Greetings to the beautiful people from Crooks and Liars, Pharyngula, and Shakespeare's Sister. Get your full-frontal Blue Gal here.

I blogged last month about Alabama License Plates, particularly the fact that there is a "Global War on Terror" plate for veterans of the "Global War on Terror." There aren't too many veterans, me thinks, because you know, you're not technically a "veteran" if (a) you're dead or (b) you're going to be re-deployed next week.

Recently I've noticed that there are far fewer "W" stickers on SUV's driving around Birmingham, Alabama, where I live. I see this as a slightly good sign, though it may be that since he won't be running again (barring any President-for-Life signing statement) even Alabamians don't think they need to advertise for him anymore.

But while the "W" stickers are waning, they have been replaced with something far more pernicious, in my opinion. Ladies and Gentleman, presenting Alabama's God Bless America License Plate:

I was just gonna comment how awful that jingo supporters of Bush have found a way to sneak in state-sponsored religion. Aw, isn't this just like "In God We Trust" on the money? Don't get me started. I'M A CHRISTIAN, GOD DAMMIT, AND THIS IS FUCKING OFFENSIVE TO ME.

Deep cleansing breaths.

So I'm looking up the image of this plate from the DMV and just guess what I find out. "God Bless America" is a STANDARD LICENSE PLATE. That means when you go in to get a plain old regular license plate you have a choice. You can get a passenger car plate, a motorcycle plate, a truck plate, a permanent trailer plate, or...a God Bless America plate. Go see for yourself. It's the only standard plate with a message, apart from "Stars fell on Alabama" (great song). No extra charge for God Bless America, and you get to choose it as a default at the Department of Motor Vehicles. No waiting. They will HAND YOU ONE from a pile when you pay the standard fee. No wonder I saw no fewer than eight of these on the school carpool run this morning.

I just can't believe the overwhelming kow-tow to fundie America-first fever in this state. Some state legislator thought this was a really good idea, and who is gonna argue with him apart from some Yankee transplant blogger, bless her heart?

Get this: If you are a veteran who was exposed to an atomic bomb blast in the line of duty, you have to pay three dollars to get a special plate for yourself. I looked this up because I thought it was sort of odd that in the price list it says, "Nuked Veteran." Nuked, like the noodles I had for lunch. They wouldn't actually put that on a license plate, though, and then charge three dollars to someone who was exposed to nuclear radiation defending our country, for the privilege of having it on his/her car...

At least it's got a fucking American Flag on the corner. God bless America.

Tuesday, November 28

I'm going to a book signing with Jimmy Carter this Friday morning. I was wondering how to cover this...I don't have a digital camera, and as a quasi-anonymous blogger, what to do?

But then I read a certain right wing blog and her "lunch with Netanyahu." I would never, ever link to her, but conveniently Rubber Hose got banned (and then unbanned) from her blog so I'll just link to that. You can click the word "threads" on his post to see the photos of the lunch, or just lookee here at my own version:

This particular blogger provides an important model for blogging about celebrity encounters:

1. If the "lunch" is "Totally off the record" be sure to blog everything he says.

2. Flirt with any MSM guys there. Impress them with your deep social awareness that Israel has the right to well, anything they want, because of terrorism. End of debate. By the way, for upscale Manhattan hotel banquet-facility food, this chicken cordon bleu (that is turkey ham in there, right?) is pretty good!

3. Don't worry about spelling. You don't need to spell correctly in order to be "knowlegable", and your "favortie" FOX friend won't notice. If you catch the typos later, you still don't need to fix them. I mean, it's not like your blog is your face.

I'll have to take all of this under consideration and just get the damn book signed and thank President Carter for telling the truth about the Middle East. 'Bout time somebody did. Israel holds 300 children, some as young as twelve, in prison without trial, and won't trade any of them for one kidnapped soldier. Because of terrorism. Hope I can get a taxi after lunch.

Carter gave a kickass interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air yesterday. Once a certain blogger gets back from the mall, and has done her "blog for Bolton" for the day, this interview will...not be listened to by her. She'll probably take egg-sucker Dershowitz's word for it.

I especially loved where Carter refers to the current President as "George Bush, Junior." Subtle smacks are best.

I usually don't link to Huffpo stories, I mean, what's the point? You either all read it anyway or you don't on principle, more power to ya. But don't miss David Sirota's article on why the MSM controls the discourse. The New York/Washington/LA myopia of the mainstream media is cut to ribbons here, and good riddance.

Sirota leaves out two important points: first, that the blogosphere is set to take on that myopia head on, and secondly, that Dean's 50 State Strategy is, too. I happen to think that these two elements, the blogosphere and the 50 State Strategy, are linked at the hip. With left-wing bloggers in some very red states (like, erm, Alabama) it makes sense for the Democratic Party to pay attention to each and every race, every state, no matter what its shade of crimson.

Couple side notes. Over at the Aristocrats we are planning a Frank Zappa blogswarm to occur sometime next month. You'll be able to post a link to your blog or maybe even guest post, particularly if you don't have your own blog. Details are still being worked out. Watch that space. I happen to think Frank Zappa one of the great political philosophers of our time:

"It pays to make the U.S. school system a crock of shit because the dumber the people are that come out, the easier it is to draft them, make them into docile consumers, or, you know, mongo employees. There are plenty of yuppies out there with absolutely nothing upstairs. Graduate airheads with PhDs and everything but they don't know anything. And what do they listen to? Certainly not my records."

Second side note: I am feeling a little better, thanks. Besides, I've used up all my Mommy sick days for the next twelve years. If you think I'm going to spend my first full day on my feet in two weeks, grocery shopping, putting away laundry, and vacuuming, you would be right.

Saturday, November 25

I'm just one self-professed Christian here. We both know that you don't speak for me, and I don't speak for you.

I'm disappointed that you are too busy to help Pastor Haggard with his little gay problem, though I suspect he's far better off without your "help." The drug problem has to be addressed first, since it's a symptom, in my opinion, of the self-hatred he's inflicted since who knows when. Watching you throw him under the bus told us much more about you than about him, anyway.

I think we Christians have a huge boulder in front of us called sex. We can't seem to get over the embarrassment and guilt that comes from feeling intense human pleasure. Nevermind that all of us are here, in part, because two people decided to experience that pleasure together. (I certainly hope it was good for both of them in every instance, and that not too much alcohol or Eagles music was involved.)

We can't discuss orgasms in church, and we seem unable to get beyond the whole outside of marriage issue, even though a great many so-called Christians get marriage totally wrong. We can't discuss rape in church. We can't discuss sexual responsibility. What kind of difference could the church make if it made a serious effort to discuss alcohol abuse and sex with young people? If the church told its young men, "hey, getting her drunk is not an option." And told young women, "Look, getting drunk at a party is not "asking for it," but you are losing control of your body anyway. Don't do that. It's self-abuse and it's not, repeat, not attractive." What if we in the church told our young people that sex is terrific, especially when you love the one you're with? And that love is the most important element of a sexual relationship? Do you think we could go there, Mr. Dobson? Do you?

Friday, November 24

There's a terrific article on culturejamming the "may I check your receipt" BS here. A long article, but well worth the read.

More Doc in the Box today and ooh I got to read Travel and Leisure Magazine while waiting and waiting. So today I can "Not Buy" the $8900.00 Hermes butter leather travel bag. Or the Tommy Bahama "swim to evening" collection. Or the Patagonia "mini-vacation."

We are a sick society, people, and we need more than a shot to get over it. Prayer for today: may I continue to give thanks, be humble, and consume less. May I fight the war on Christmas as a commercialistic grab-fest, and keep a deeper meaning of the holidays the year round. We are not what we buy.

Thursday, November 23

So I Googled "turkey panties" and came up with this. Turns out they were "made in Turkey". Also, I would have no idea how to put them on. Pretty color, though. If you think all things red are Republican, imagine Laura Bush in these. See? It ain't so.

I'm grateful for all of you and for the opportunity to blog through pneumonia. Getting a little better, I hope: back to doc in the box tomorrow, though.

My Second Grader brought home Weekly Reader this week. I wish there was a bigger picture online or that I had a scanner.

Wednesday, November 22

Perhaps the reason Katie Jean can't stand the idea of handing out contraception without counseling is she's never seen it done. When it's done right, K-Lo, it's a great experience for everybody and even has the support of the surrounding community. This video should put to rest any debate about the efficacy of condoms to protect against rain, wind, pregnancy and STD's.

Tuesday, November 21

So I'm lying in my sickbed and there is a post out there to write about one of my favorite blog topics: contraception, responsibility, and reproductive freedom. Figleaf (Sex blogger? Nah. Wonderful writer on the topic of sex? Yeah.) led me to it, and then there was the appointment of Eric Keroack to HHS, not the only Cabinet Level Department under Bush to forget the meaning of "scientifically accurate."

BTW Stephenson gave that appointment all the serious consideration it deserves. (And he makes great soup. Great. Soup.)

But man, oh man, I've been sick. And drugged. The good doctor took one look at this momma of three and knew the only thing that would put me in bed, since cold followed by strep followed by pneumonia hadn't done it, was codeine. Yup, that did it.

I thought I'd never blog again. I wept for you all. I prayed. And then who should arrive at my fevered bedside but...

My angel of mercy, Kathryn! Jean! Lopez!

Okay, I know. That photo of hers has been photoshopped way better than this. But just when I thought the absence of Saint Katherine Harris and Saint Santorum would leave me with no more spark, snark, or reason to go on...my angel of mercy arrives with words to keep me blogging with comfort and joy!

It all started when through C&L (I will read C&L daily from my grave I swear) I found out both Kos and Sully had fallen in love with this nugget of angel goodness:

"Passing out contraception without any deeper context or conversation is degrading and disrespectful — to men and women. Tell me I'm crazy."

Thursday, November 16

Let the blogwhoring begin! (DO nominate your own blog, people.) And if you just so happen to be wondering where Blue Gal is on the TTLB Ecosystem, she's #4386, a flappy bird, which means you would nominate her here. Just saying. Thanks, Konagod, for the heads up.

I probably won't attend the red carpet ceremony for this one. But I've got my dress ready for the Koufax's:

That's my virtual dress for the virtual red carpet. If you think I could fit in something like that after three kids, well, you're probably voting for W in '08.

Speaking of Sparklepony, Her Highness has an innovative product in development with the Michael Steele campaign talking urinal cake. (I can barely type those last three words without gagging. Sorry.) Back in the day I visited Qwerty's house and he had a pic of a smiling yuppie taped to the inside of his toilet lid. All of which gave me the idea for a low cost alternative: taping a picture of Jean Schmidt to the inside of my toilet seat lid. I like this idea better than the urinal cake because a) for some reason it doesn't have the eww factor the urinal cake does and b) it is unisex. Women can moon and men can, well, you know. Please, no comments on how she might like that. BeggingTalking toilet seat lid? Well, I might post about something like that over at Risties, but not here. Never here.

Mike of the Blog Roundup was kind enough to give me a hat tip this morning. In his honor, I'm re-running part of a post from Election Day. Below is an interview Brainshrub did with Mike his own self. I got a copy in part because Mike has some extremely nice things to say about this here blog. But he also talks about the history of Crooks and Liars, as well as the blogosphere in general. Be aware this interview took place before Election Day.

More important than what Mike had to say about Blue Gal is what he says about blogging itself: you don't choose blogging, it chooses you. And a diamond is just a piece of coal that stuck with it. I hope bloggers who listen to this get inspired to let blogging choose them, and stick with it.

They've got a nice pic of Mike at the Odeo site, but this one is my favorite. That look could get you into, and more importantly, out of, a lot of trouble with women, and probably has, Mike honey. Oh. And he's a musician. Who has played with hmm, everybody. Whatta heartbreaker. Sigh.

I want you to know that I've decided to continue my role as Wisconsin's Junior Senator in the U.S. Senate and not to seek the Democratic nomination for President in 2008.

It's time to crunch the numbers to find out just how much refund Halliburton owes to the US taxpayer. "Thanks for funding a single-payer health care system, Dick. Sorry about the bankruptcy."

This week on BG: I'm almost finished with a couple great books, one fiction, one non. Hope to work up some mini reviews for ya. Also knitting a bit in preparation for Madrona, but this is not a knitting blog so I'll spare you. One of the sweaters has some fabulous blue in it, though. Madrona is a knitting convention in Tacoma Washington in late January. If any BG readers would like to meet up then and there, let me know.

This is the latest fashion doll, MyScene's Kennedy, whose expression can change "with the touch of a button." Generally she is either smirking or has a gigantic O face, and just look at the kinds of things that get her excited:

Don't doubt for a minute that these dolls are designed for the kindergarden set. And as bad as these dolls are, look at this. With the "Swappin Styles" dolls, if you don't like your doll's mood, you can transplant her head.

Thursday, November 9

There is a constituency of women who are good Christians and love their babies AND have had to make incredibly painful decisions about reproduction.

Blue Gal is one of that constituency.

Infertility treatment. Blood drawn up to three times a week,which made the veins in my arms that made me look like an addict.

Surgery where they took my uterus out of my body cavity and operated on it. No shit. Condemned me to three C-sections, no complaints there, but if I HAD gone into labor it would have been possibly life-threatening and definitely fertility threatening. Doctor knew best. Get it?

Success. Weekly ultrasounds. Finding out it was twins one week.

Being told the twin was a "demise" the second week.

You boys on the court (no offense, Ruth) are tossing around the term "demise" when the pro-life lawyers for the fundies want everyone to think "baby-killing doctors."

I did not kill my baby. I probably would never have known that second embryo existed had my treatment not included ultrasounds.

I havethreechildren. I weep for women who have to have medical procedures done that terminate very wanted pregnancies in order to save their own lives. That is what happens.

These painful decisions are between a woman and her doctor and her God. Congress shall make no law...period.

Memo to the new Congress: Welcome. There are less Republicans now, and a woman in charge. I hope that makes a difference.

Loving mothers of wanted children: some of us lost our children in war, some of us lost our children before birth. Some of us are blessed with children, some bless children without having any of our own. We are ALL watching you. Just. Don't. Fuck. With. Us.

Seriously, this particular pair of panties has gotten me the most hits per day than any other image I've ever posted, for the past two weeks. These panties are so old I can't access them in my flikr account anymore. What gives?

Last night Blue Gal took her family to the lil' gathering for Loretta Nall. Loretta says she had a huge number of emails from Alabamians saying they were voting for her, and that a couple supporters had seen people in polling places asking how to spell her name for the write-in.

For new readers to this blog Loretta Nall was the Libertarian candidate for Governor and the choice of protest voters and progressives here in Alabama.

One pol told her she would get 20% but I agree with Loretta that that number is BS. If she breaks 10% (write-in votes get counted today) that would be an astonishing accomplishment.

Think the tide is not turning? We'll see. If an atheist pot smoker gets 10 percent of the vote in Alabama...on a write-in campaign...

Tuesday, November 7

It's too early to call either Schmidt or Allen the winner at this point, but they're both ahead as of this writing and I'm going to bed. If they win, these are the people who are going to get congratulatory phone calls from the President.

Pffffft.

A sincere congratulations to Strickland, Casey, Pelosi, and all of us. Stay humble people. It was only four years after Carter was elected, when we Dems were going to reform and save America from the legacy of Watergate, that the Reagan Revolution began. Americans have no sense of history, and the memory hole is huge. They just wanted the crooks out. All the corruption was interferring with their enjoyment of home re-decorating shows. Now America can resume caring about stupid stuff again, like the sanctity of Britney Spears's marriage.

I forgot. November 4 was my two-year blogiversary. But it was election day 2004, so today works, too. And I already got my present. The hit counter will top 100,000 this week, and more than 200 other blogs link here. Thank you. I have the best readers in the blogosphere.

And I got a lovely surprise gift, too. Mike of the Crooks and Liars Blog Round-up did an interview with Brainshrub's own Paul -V- and both of these kind men had nice things to say about this here blog. Thank you, gentlemen.

More important than what Mike had to say about Blue Gal is what he says about blogging itself: you don't choose blogging, it chooses you. And a diamond is just a piece of coal that stuck with it. I hope bloggers who listen to this get inspired to let blogging choose them, and stick with it.

They've got a nice pic of Mike at the Odeo site, but this one is my favorite. That look could get you into, and more importantly, out of, a lot of trouble with women, and probably has, Mike honey. Oh. And he's a musician. Who has played with hmm, everybody. Don't get me started.

Finally, I did a google search on "blogiversary" to see if there are any other political bloggers to congratulate and man, did a lot of people start personal/knitting/diary blogs one year ago. I happen to know thatFalafel Sex started at the same time I did. Congratulations Abby and Company, and the rest of you go visit. After you vote. And if it's your blogiversary soon or recently, let us know in comments. Thanks.

Monday, November 6

We had a really good example of GOP crapola in a judicial race here in Birmingham this weekend. Let's take this slow but sure, and remember, I did not make this up. We elect judges in Alabama, which basically means the judge who can shout "the Ten Commandments" the loudest, (that is, the words "the Ten Commandments," not the actual commandments) gets elected. Don't get me started.

Republican candidate Mark Gaines, (who by the way by some odd twist is not an elected judge, he's an appointed hack, go figure) on a campaign mail flyer, cut and pasted old white lady's weepy face into an ad.

The ad implies that Dem. opponent, Alan King, had personally kicked her out of her home when he ruled with the City of Homewood AL that her property be condemned. Problem is:

1. Building was owned by a woman named Sue Fong Loo.

There's an acronym in Alabama for women named "Sue Fong Loo." PNW. "Probably Not White." Certainly not by Alabama's rigorous standards for white-i-tude.

2. According to the City of Homewood records, building had been "vacant" for five years.

A tip for GOP'ers from Alabama. "Vacant" is not just the kind of stare you give when you find out your pastor is a homo. In this instance, it means nobody lives there. The fact that the property was vacant and was about to be "condemned" (the word is not just for Satan anymore!) apparently had somewhat to do with Judge King's ruling in the case.

3. Son of owner had negotiated to sell property to developers with the understanding that building would be demolished. City finally bought the building with that understanding.

Right. The building was owned by the City of Homewood at the time of demolition. They did not rent it to a little old white lady before they tore it down just to make her cry.

The mailing was supposed to arrive in people's mailboxes Monday, too late for a rebuttal. Due to a "mailing error" the flyer arrived Friday, and apparently were also mistakenly placed in the mailboxes of some members of the Homewood City Council, where this building is, and who were the defendants in the particular building case. The Democrats on the council went apeshit. I've lived in the Birmingham area for ten years, and I can tell you, Friday afternoon news conferences with the Homewood City Council are the exception.

The money quote from the local news coverage of this: Gaines' campaign consultant, a disciple of Carl if ever there was one, said, "...the claims are based on a court case...so they're accurate."

Except for the RACE of the lady pictured in the ad. And the fact that she doesn't exist. And the building wasn't occupied. And the other stuff. Please send this guy to look for WMD's in Baghdad. If anybody can find non-existent SHIT...

Have a great time voting tomorrow, folks. And if you have any problems, take pictures so we can all see, got it?

Sunday, November 5

I'll say it again. The crime is called "hypocrisy." Nice how Pastor Haggard's books are getting a fresh look from online reviewers over at Amazon, too:

No Sir, I will not let you go to hell! But get us a bag of meth and a bottle of lube, and I'll take us both to heaven!

By now you all know that one fellow megachurch pastor has come out and said Haggard's wife may be responsible for why he strayed. I dunno, she kinda looks like the safe white Doris Day type to me. Don't let online porn sites fool you: you can never tell from a picture if she likes getting "Song of Solomon" in the back door or not.

Not to sound too cynical, but I've got five bucks that says Gayle Haggard gets a book deal and a seat on Oprah's couch before next Christmas.

Saturday, November 4

Not for real. I am waiting for Tuesday tho' Mr. BG did vote absentee. I went over to WaPo this morning and played a little Midterm Madness. You could spend all day switching red seats to blue over there, but I just stayed long enough to "vote for" Ned Lamont, Bob Casey Jr, and Tammy Duckworth. Oh, and the rumors are true: voting against Jean Schmidt is better than sex. With Jean Schmidt. I'm sure.

Friday, November 3

It took me looking it up to figure out the whole Bush 41/Bush 43 thing. 41st President, 43rd President. I get it. Here's what I don't get: Why is GWB so angry at his dad, that he would totally replace his Dad with Cheney/Rumsfeld?

41 was Director of the CIA under Gerald Ford (an administration notable for the fact that no one remembers anything about it except tripping over stuff, Squeaky Fromme and WIN buttons). Bush 41's intelligence experience was flushed down the memory hole toilet as a cover-up for any presumed knowledge he might have about Iran/Contra. He's also BFF with the Saudi Royal Family, so, I mean, Dad might have a little Middle East/US intelligence in his pocket. Ya think?

As the prospects of war continued to grow throughout 2002, family members could see the former president's anguish. When his sister Nancy Ellis asked him about the war, he responded: 'But do they have an exit strategy?'

Guess 43 wasn't listening to 41 at that point. But hey. In the clearest moment of lucidity of the entire current administration, Bush 43 said in 2002 that the reason we went to war with Iraq is "they're a sworn enemy and he tried to kill my Daddy." But is it possible that the colossal pileup of failures of the past seven years could accomplish what Saddam could not? If I were a Freudian, I'd say this whole current administration was an attempt to castrate Bush 41. Just saying.

They just christened an aircraft carrier named after Senior, and here's what W. hadda say:

Bush described the Nimitz-class USS George H.W. Bush supercarrier as "unrelenting," "unshakable," "unyielding" and "unstoppable," he said it "probably should have been named the Barbara Bush."

Thursday, November 2

See, I blog here every day. But when I find something that is off-color, might offend, or is just over the top, I post it over there. My fellow Aristocrats, three wonderful guys named Paul, Mark, and Sandy Underpants (the shy 'Ristie) tolerate my over-the-topness with sense of mild bemusement, and unlike many women who are on the internet with three guys at once, I've never been subjected to that "gagging's good, baby" mumbo-jumbo. 'Nuff said.

So yesterday I took a chance and posted about tampons. Not just regular tampons, but Christmas Angel Ornaments made out of tampons.

Now you've got to admit that is adorable.>>>>>>

For your information, tampons can be purchased in a box of 40, which is just enough angels for a six-foot tree with lights.

Oh. You can read the tampon post here. I was a little worried that the boys might get mad at me for taking over and making Aristocrats into a Christmas Craft blog but to their amazing credit Mark and Sandy didn't even blink. (Paul is recovering from surgery and I didn't want to call him about the tampon thing. Also, he might celebrate Kwanza, and Toni Morrison's book of tampon crafts isn't out yet.)

Sandy said:

I stayed up late last night and created a parallel universe entirely from tampons. it's just like this universe except tampon John Kerry is an ice cream truck driver.

And Mark said:

I went to a Christmas party once where the tree was decorated with tampons AND reefers. Sure you had to be careful about what you smoked, but there was also the possibility that you could have the best period ever.

Speaking of best periods ever, emailing back and forth about my wonderful co-bloggers with another one, Captain Dyke, I was pleased to see that a number of menstrual product-placement experts have given Gmail Adsense a try. And given that hey, I clicked on all the ads in preparation for this post, they'll probably put up lots more period-cork and douchebag ads in the future, so I'd be careful about emailing anyone about Prince Charles or Rahm Emanuel, if I were you.

Did you know that Playtex has just come out with a "Sport Tampon"? So that while you are having your period, you can still do this:

I dunno if I can wait an entire twenty-eight days to try that, because I can't do that on my okay days, if you know what I mean.

But Playtex Sport Tampons are not for me because I object on ecology grounds to a plastic applicator. (Okay girls, I realize it's just you and me for the rest of this post; frankly, I think we lost most of the men back at the 40-to-a-box statement. Moving on.) For the real ecology minded set, there are cotton pads that are washable, and this site is so supportive that they not only sell them, they give you a pattern so you can sew your own. So we come full circle to the craft blog thing again. I love the care instructions:

Wednesday, November 1

But I think here was a missed opportunity. Instead of calling it a botched joke, Kerry could have made this about the economy, stupid. Especially when the Wall Freep Journal has a page one article this morning headed "Bush Gains Ground on Economy, But Iraq Still Tops Voters' Agenda". Huh?

Yeah, "Mr." President, I meant what I said. Undereducated, unskilled young people in this country have zero opportunities for job training, learning a trade. No Child Left Behind is a joke. In an effort to turn everyone into a scholar, you have forced school systems around the country to scrap alternative diplomas and VoTech programs, and therefore you have left those who are not scholars with few employment alternatives but to join the military. And you are also spending our children's future on this stupid war, which is based on your WMD lies. You have also left the "Homeland" at risk by stripping National Guard troops from the states to supply this war with soldiers. As one reservist put it, "one weekend a month my ass."

Don't tell me I should go to work for those people. It's too late for John Kerry to start telling the truth with passion. He should take his wife's money, start his own damn global initiative, and do good for the rest of his life. He ain't making no difference here, 'cept to give Tony Snow an undeserved distractor.